Exploring the Process of Adaption of Employee Creativity: Based on Kauffman's NK Model

NK model describes a system of N elements. The complexity of the system is modeled as the interdependency among its elements. Such interdependency is represented by parameter K, which denotes the number of elements that affect the function of a particular element. NK model can be used to simulate the adaptive behavior through the fitness landscape. The authors collected data from 217 employees in five organizations from different industries in China. They empirically examine the role of six factors, namely, proactive personality, creative process engagement, coworker support, supervisor support, freedom or autonomy and resource supply, in developing employee creativity. Based on empirical findings, the authors then use the NK model to simulate the process of adaption of employee creativity. Their simulation results show the different adaptive processes of employee creativity in the five organizations from different industries. The theoretical and practical implications of their study are discussed in the final part of this paper.

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